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Author Topic: Why is learning considered a hypothetical construct?  (Read 6316 times)  Share 

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MichelleVo

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Why is learning considered a hypothetical construct?
« on: August 17, 2012, 04:44:13 pm »
0
In previous chapters, they referred to 'consciousness as a hypothetical construct' because it is a concept that is believed to exist, as we can measure its effects - but we can't directly observe or measure it.

Although, learning is also regarded as a hypothetical concept - but why is this?

There are various ways to measure learning potential (tests, exams, ect.)
And MRI scans, FMRI and PET imaging allow us to observe the brain's functions. Therefore it's possible to see the brain areas involved while learning is taking place and the synaptic connections between neurons!

So why is learning a hypothetical construct?

Could someone PLEASE explain this!
« Last Edit: August 17, 2012, 05:04:02 pm by MichelleVo »

yearningforsimplicity

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Re: Why is learning considered a hypothetical construct?
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2012, 09:11:20 pm »
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I think (and this is just my uninformed opinion - not out of a textbook or anything) that learning is said to be a hypothetical construct (despite the fact that we can measure learning as you mentioned) because we can never really know if a person has truly LEARNT something - like in Tolman's latent learning, you know how an organism doesn't exhibit a behaviour until they get an appropriate opportunity to do so? How did they learn that behaviour in the first place? If certain behaviours from learning are innate, how can we observe or measure them? I think in that sense we can't measure or observe learning taking place, just as we can't observe or determine consciousness (another hypothetical construct) in terms of whether a person is actually fully conscious (or if they're just daydreaming). Also, Sometimes you'll see a person actively involved in doing something or with their head in a book as though they're really actively revising their work - but how do you know if they're really taking in, understanding and learning new info? Idk if this makes sense haha but this was how I tried to understand it last year :)
« Last Edit: August 17, 2012, 09:15:54 pm by yearningforsimplicity »
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Charmz

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Re: Why is learning considered a hypothetical construct?
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2012, 09:13:26 pm »
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From Gravis textbook;

"Like consciousness, memory and many other
psychological characteristics and processes,
learning is a psychological construct; that is, a
concept used to describe or explain something
that is believed to exist or occur but cannot be
directly observed or measured. Because it is not
possible to observe or measure learning actually
taking place, psychologists observe behaviour,
or performance, to gain an understanding of
the learning process. From observations of
performance, it can be inferred that learning has
(or has not) taken place."

Tomw2

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Re: Why is learning considered a hypothetical construct?
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2012, 09:20:53 pm »
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In previous chapters, they referred to 'consciousness as a hypothetical construct' because it is a concept that is believed to exist, as we can measure its effects - but we can't directly observe or measure it.

Although, learning is also regarded as a hypothetical concept - but why is this?

For exactly the same reason. It's a process that cannot be directly observed, but that can be inferred from observable behaviour.

Quote
There are various ways to measure learning potential (tests, exams, ect.)

All of which are indirect evidence of learning, all of which have major validity and reliability issues. Just as learning is presumed to take place when there is a measured change in a particular performance task - it's indirect.

Quote
And MRI scans, FMRI and PET imaging allow us to observe the brain's functions.

Also indirect. Furthermore the link between neural imaging and learning is not reliable or validated at present. fMRI uses broad indicators like metabolic activity - it doesn't fully differentiate and qualify the type of activity.

Quote
Therefore it's possible to see the brain areas involved while learning is taking place and the synaptic connections between neurons

What you are seeing is degrees of activity when learning is presumed to be taking place. Regarding synaptic connections, these are not fully quantified, qualified and delineated in terms of their role in learning - when they are, we will probably have the ability to build artificial brains.


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